Tyreek Hill’s announcement that he wanted to leave the Miami Dolphins caused quite a stir at the end of last NFL season. Now quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has openly admitted that their relationship is still suffering as a result.

The 2024 NFL season did not go as planned for the Miami Dolphins, who missed out on the playoffs. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill also experienced a slight dip in his performance and announced his departure at the end of the season.

“This is the first time I haven’t made the playoffs. I have to do what’s best for me and my family,“ Hill said after the final game of the season: ”Whether that’s here or somewhere else, I’m opening that door for myself. I’m out, bro.”

Although he has since shelved these thoughts, his behavior left its mark on the team. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has now openly stated that they are still working on smoothing the waters in their relationship.

It’s not just about the relationship between Tagovailoa and Hill; the wide receiver alienated a large part of the team when he openly toyed with the idea of leaving the Dolphins.

Tagovailoa on Hill: “You have to rebuild everything.”

“It’s not just me. It’s a lot of guys. I’m not the only one who heard that. You’re not the only ones who heard that. A lot of people who are into football, who follow the Miami Dolphins, who follow Tyreek, who are fans of him. Everyone saw that,“ Tagovailoa told reporters.

And he made it clear: ”When you say something like that, you can’t just get away with ‘Hey, my mistake.’ You have to work on that relationship. You have to rebuild everything.”

Nevertheless, Tagovailoa recognizes Hill’s desire to improve in all areas. “He’s working on the things he wants to improve and do better. That’s the first step for me. I commend him for doing that,” the 27-year-old said.

Hill is coming off one of the weakest seasons of his career, finishing with just 959 receiving yards last year despite starting all 17 games. The last time he had fewer yards was in 2019, but that was when he only played in 12 games for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Hill also had to play several games in 2024 without Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa: Hill has changed

The quarterback has already noticed a mental change in Hill during the current offseason. “I think Tyreek has become a lot more vulnerable. He talks to the guys a lot more,” he said.

It’s “not just about football,” but also about “things off the field. He’s showing vulnerability about some things people know about his personal life and similar topics. I think that’s the first step in building real relationships and a real connection with a lot of the guys there,” Tagovailoa believes.

Hill has often made headlines with his personal life in the past, but those days are supposed to be over. “I think he’s still trying to find himself. The man he wants to be, and he’s not that young anymore, everyone makes mistakes. It’s just that some people are in the spotlight and their mistakes are more noticeable than others,” Tagovailoa said.

In conclusion, despite all the differences and problems that existed and possibly still exist with his receiver, the quarterback made a passionate plea. “You just have to give him some leeway. He’s our teammate. We love him. If you know him as a person, I think you would love him too,” he said.